Emile Heskey

Heskey in the England national team jersey (2009)

Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey ( born January 11, 1978 in Leicester ) is an English football player of Antiguan roots. The striker, who can be equally used as a center forward and the (mostly left ) wing, celebrated with Leicester City and FC Liverpool his greatest successes. Between 1999 and 2010 he scored 62 in A- internationals seven goals and participated in two World (2002 and 2010) and European Championship finals (2000 and 2004) in part. Characteristic of his style of play is primarily the ability to compete in the offensive the ball before the opponent to create space and put players in the scene. Unusually low, however, is its own goal rate, for which he is often criticized by much of the English football media and their trailers.

Sports career

Leicester City (1987-2000)

Born in central Leicester, England Emile Heskey was from the age of nine years, part of the youth department of Leicester City; earlier, he had made the first footballing steps at the Ratby Groby Juniors and clearly lifted from the same age players in terms of talent. He spent seven years in various youth teams of the club before he made his debut on 8 March 1995 against Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League. During the following season 1995 /96 Heskey captured in the " foxes " a regular place, came up with 30 championship inserts, shot after his first goal against Norwich City (1-0 ), six more goals and helped the meantime relegated to the second division club to return to the top division.

In the 1996/97 season became " Bruno " as the muscular striker was named because of its resemblance to the then-popular boxer Frank Bruno, suddenly the attention at the highest national level and was after ten league goals in 35 games as one of the most promising talents in English football at all. For this he won the League Cup as a teenager with the team managed by Martin O'Neill in 1997. He forced first with his 1:1 equalizing goal in the final against Middlesbrough FC two minutes before the end of the extension a replay, which in turn won Leicester ten days later 1-0.

With the services shown, Heskey recommended for larger clubs and at the prospects included Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Heskey showed initially attached to their home and had one more season 1997/98: in which he repeated the ten league goals last year. The final breakthrough in the direction of a future top striker this was not, of course, and when he in 1998/99 get only six Championship matches in the season, the allegations that he contributed to few goals were increasing. These were joined by the criticism that he was going for a powerfully built striker too quickly to the ground. Heskey made ​​his style of play increasingly in the service of the team and created with speed and physical presence clearances for his teammates. Of specially benefited the already somewhat dated newcomer Tony Cottee who scored in the two seasons between 1998 and 2000 to a total of 23 league goals Heskeys page. With this storm formation Leicester City won in 2000 after a 2-1 final win against Tranmere Rovers once again the League Cup.

Liverpool FC (2000-2004)

Even before the end of the 1999/2000 season moved Heskey for the transfer fee of eleven million pounds for Liverpool FC, which represented at that time the most expensive transfer for the club at the Merseyside. His first game he made on March 5, 2000 against AFC Sunderland and in the remaining 13 league games he scored three goals. In conjunction with the almost two years younger than Michael Owen, at whose side he also increasingly acted in the English national team, and under the reign of coach Gérard Houllier is Heskey showed a goal threat, shot 23 competitive goal - including 14 in the Premier League - and won its probably the best year as a pro three major titles. This included a new addition to the League Cup and the FA Cup edition especially after a spectacular 5-4 final win against Deportivo Alavés the UEFA Cup; with this trophy collection was joined shortly afterwards the successes in European and English Super Cup.

This sporting highlight of 2001 was not repeated in the subsequent period and especially after the 2002/03 season, as Heskey scored only nine goals in 51 official matches, the critics votes were increasing again in terms of its weak strike rate. Coach Houllier but continued to speak to the media scolded his confidence, especially since his team had just won the League Cup again. Nevertheless, the signs at more and more towards farewell; this came that proved to be stubborn competitors in the fight for a regular place on the side of Owen in the 2003 /04 Czech international Milan Baroš. In May 2004, Heskey finally signed for a total of 6.25 million pounds - of which £ 3.5 million were due immediately - a contract with Birmingham City, where he was to replace Christophe Dugarry and at that time was the most expensive transfer in the club's history again.

Birmingham City (2004-2006)

The two years spent Heskey at the "Blues " were changeable. In the 2004/05 season Heskey was one of the most consistent players in Birmingham, scored eleven goals and won in addition to the most " Man-of -the- Match" nominations for both the club house award its own supporters as well as his teammates the best player the last round.

The sports development deteriorated rapidly in the season 2005/06. To this end, nobody was able to again suffering from a goal drought Heskey to avoid crashing to the relegation zone, and after only four goals in 34 league games had to Birmingham City the transition into the second-class Football League Championship compete. From the crowd favorite of the preseason after weak performances was often maligned " scapegoat " and become after the descent expressed Karren Brady from the club's management that the last 1.5 -million rate from the Heskey - transfer business was no longer due.

Wigan Athletic (2006-2009)

At the beginning of the 2006/07 season Heskey moved to Wigan Athletic. The transfer fee was 5.5 million pounds and in his second he scored in the first home game against Reading FC the decisive goal to make it 1-0; this was also his 500th league encounter and total he scored eight goals this season in 36 games. The relegation was narrowly saved by goal difference against Sheffield United, but especially in the crucial 2-1 win against direct competitors on the final day certified him the journalists a good performance.

In the season 2007/ 08 Heskey had increased to struggle with injuries. At first, saw a foot injury in September 2007 for a two -month sabbatical and in December 2007 he took out a match against Blackburn Rovers with an ankle injury that put him out of action for another month. However, he came to 28 league applications where it however only reach four goals. For this purpose, the 1:1 equalizing goal in the last minute was the title contenders Chelsea, zunichtemachte its championship hopes final.

Heskey was also set at the beginning of the season 2008/ 09 on the striker from Wigan Athletic. He scored goals against Hull City, FC Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers before he signaled in the winter transfer window, not wanting to extend his expiring contract. Team boss Dave Whelan then signaled a willingness to want to sell Heskey at a reasonable offer. The choice finally fell in January 2009 on the trained by Martin O'Neill Aston Villa; the transfer fee was £ 3.5 million and Heskey signed a contract for 3 ½ years.

Aston Villa (2009-2012)

On 27 January 2009 Heskey scored on his debut the 1-0 winning goal for Aston Villa FC Portsmouth. On the role of complement player he came but from now on no more out. Although O'Neill from Leicester City a patron of Heskey had been since his time as a coach, he preferred to attack the foremost position often the unerring Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew. Heskey was thus during the 2009/10 season in 31 Premier League games equal to 16 times only as a substitute for the course. After the 2011/12 season Heskey received no new contract offer more and left the club after 92 Premier League inserts.

Newcastle Jets (since 2012)

Heskey joined in September 2012 to Australia in the A-League for the Newcastle United Jets.

England national team

Heskey was already active in the English youth national teams. He belonged, as well as his later strike partner Michael Owen, the English U-18 selection, which took third place at the European Championship in France. Even for the English U- 21 team, he played 16 matches between countries 1996 and 2000.

The tall, extremely responsive and very robust operating striker ran the 1-1 in a friendly match on 28 April 1999 against Hungary in Budapest for the first time for the English national team, gave after against Argentina at Wembley his debut from the start and demonstrated an excellent performance ( "Man of the Match" ) earned him the award for " best Player ". He secured a place in the squad now on for the next Euro 2000 in the Netherlands and Belgium and came during the tournament in which England was eliminated after the first round to two brief appearances as a substitute. Probably the best international match in his career he played under Sven -Goran Eriksson 's 5-1 win against Germany in Munich, when he crowned his performance with the last gate.

As a regular player Heskey went to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, where he started on the left wing against Sweden. Significantly more effective however it was not until he was placed in the central attacking position on the side of Michael Owen. He scored in the second round against Denmark to score, but could not establish himself as a total permanent solution to England's forward line up. Despite its low strike rate in the club he was still an important part of the national team and took the 2-1 win against Serbia and Montenegro in June 2003 in his hometown of Leicester by Michael Owen, the Office of the team captain. Heskey was also on the national team in the European Football Championship 2004 in Portugal, but was only a substitute in the tournament in the game against France.

With the distinguished Peter Crouch as an alternative in the English storm Heskeys prospects seemed increasingly to deteriorate. Only five goals in 43 international matches and the fact that Heskey was now at a below average operating Serie A club ( the end of the season 2005/ 06 even descent ), pointed out that similar English striker possessed advantages. Nevertheless, he celebrated on 8 September 2007 at the European Championship qualifier against Israel in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney and the suspended Peter Crouch his comeback and was also in the next game against Russia from the beginning on the court. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he was again in the England squad, played the first two games in the group stage of the start and came off the bench in both the final group game and in the second round against Germany (1:4 ) in the second half.

After the tournament Heskey declared on 15 July 2010 at the age of 32, his resignation from the England national team, for whom he had scored seven goals in 62 games.

Achievements

  • UEFA Cup: 2001
  • English Cup: 2001
  • English League Cup: 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003
  • European Supercup: 2001
  • Charity Shield: 2001
306619
de